The change in ownership interest in a subsidiary during the period, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reference price for a commodity in a contingent consideration arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The percentage of undivided interest owned by a third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The percentage of undivided interest in the held by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

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- Definition

Date the entity disposed of a business or a group of assets, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The profit or loss on sales of previously unissued stock by subsidiaries made to investors outside the consolidated group that is not reported as operating income. Represents the difference in the parent company's carrying amount of the equity interest in the subsidiary or equity investee immediately before and after the transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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General Information (Unaudited) Asset Dispositions (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Morenci [Member]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company				85.00%
Morenci [Member] \| Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona Inc. [Member]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party				15.00%
Morenci [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Disposal Date		Feb. 15, 2016
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets		$ 1,000,000,000
Change in Ownership, Percentage		13.00%
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Previously Unissued Stock by Subsidiary		$ 550,000,000
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company		72.00%
Morenci [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona Inc. [Member]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party		15.00%
Morenci [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. [Member]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party		13.00%
Oil and Gas Royalty Interests [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Disposal Date	Apr. 21, 2016
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	$ 102,000,000
Serbia [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Disposal Date		May 02, 2016
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets		$ 135,000,000
Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		$ 128,000,000
Tenke Fungurume [Member] \| Tenke Segments [Member]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company				56.00%
Tenke Fungurume [Member] \| Lundin Mining Corporation [Member]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party				30.00%
Tenke Fungurume [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Disposal Date			May 09, 2016
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			$ 2,650,000,000
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company			70.00%
Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High			$ 120,000,000
Tenke Fungurume [Member] \| Copper [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High			60,000,000
Contingent Consideration, Reference Price			3.50
Tenke Fungurume [Member] \| Cobalt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High			60,000,000
Contingent Consideration, Reference Price			20
Freeport Cobalt [Member]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company				56.00%
Freeport Cobalt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			100,000,000
Kisanfu Exploration Project [Member]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company				100.00%
Kisanfu Exploration Project [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			$ 50,000,000